Officer dismissed and barred following misconduct hearing

A police officer who falsely told his former partner he’d been sent photos of her house by an anonymous person, causing her to fear for her safety, has been barred from policing.

PC Matthew Farmer, who joined Avon and Somerset Police in September 2024 and was based in Bristol, appeared at an accelerated misconduct hearing held at Police HQ earlier today (Friday 11 September).

PC Farmer was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour by committing gross misconduct and he was dismissed without notice and placed on a national barred list, which will prevent him from working in policing and other law enforcement agencies again.

The hearing heard that, while off-duty, PC Farmer attended his former partner’s house without her knowledge, where he saw a van parked outside. He later told her he’d been sent images of the house and van by an anonymous social media account, causing his former partner to fear for her safety.

Ch Insp Jo Hayward-Melen, of the Professional Standards Department, said: “PC Farmer’s former partner believed she may have a stalker and reported the incident .

“PC Farmer admitted the following day he’d made the incident up and had not been sent any photos. An investigation was subsequently launched by our Counter-Corruption Unit, resulting in today’s hearing.

“PC Farmer’s lies caused emotional and physical distress to his former partner. His actions are in no way compatible with his role as a police officer and will inevitably cause damage to the public’s trust and confidence in us.

“We’ll always take swift and robust action to root out those who don’t belong in policing.”

The full hearing outcome will be added to the misconduct section of our website when it’s available.